One of my favorite aspects of the holiday season is the giving spirit, with a massive number of Americans opening their hearts and their wallets to help others this time of year. An estimated one-third of all charitable giving in the United States happens during the month of December and more than 10% occurs within... Continue Reading →
Holiday Shopping Outside the (Virtual) Big Box
We all know how convenient Amazon is, with so much to offer under one virtual roof! But let's not forget the many amazing boutique retailers who also have a thriving online presence. We encourage everyone to try shopping small when possible this season, and we have gathered some ideas to help you round out your... Continue Reading →
Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving has long been one of my favorite holidays. This year’s was especially meaningful, spent with extended family and friends near Washington, DC., after the small gatherings of 2020 when air travel was highly discouraged. This Thanksgiving I was reminded of my many blessings. As Thanksgiving weekend is fleeting, we’d like to share some of... Continue Reading →
Good Juju
November is chock full of birthdays for me and Julia. In addition to our own birthdays, two of our sons’ birthdays and our social media guru Frannie’s birthday, we are remembering our friend Judy Thomas Stacy’s birthday. Most people probably remember a family like Julia and I remember the Thomas family from growing up. They... Continue Reading →
Our Story: Part 4
"Don't just count your years, make your years count." - George Meredith I found myself back in Kentucky for the holidays in December 1992 after nearly a year living in Germany. While it was nice to enjoy the comforts of home, eat mall food and be served free glasses of water in restaurants, I was... Continue Reading →
Gifts for Friends
No matter what your holiday traditions are, most people end up wracking their brains to come up with meaningful gift ideas for the special people in their lives around this time of year. Not to fear! The Language of Friendship has your back. Take a look at these suggestions and see if any of them... Continue Reading →
Happy Halloween!
Halloween has long been a favorite tradition for both kids and adults in the United States, but COVID times have given it additional significance as an excuse for some safe outdoor fun with friends. Today, we share some of our favorite Halloween happenings, new and old, and encourage you to share some of your favorite... Continue Reading →
Reunion Season
As a college student at Northwestern University, I couldn’t understand why massive numbers of alumni kept returning to campus for ballgames and reunions. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved my time in Evanston, Ill., but our teams were not very successful back then and the weather was horrific for a decent chunk of the... Continue Reading →
The Power of Deep Listening
“The intention of deep listening and loving speech is to restore communications, because once communication is restored, everything is possible.”Thich Nhat Hanh I'll bet that you can relate to this scenario: It’s a beautiful Saturday fall morning. You are sitting across from a close friend in an outdoor café, thrilled to be catching up in... Continue Reading →
Walks With Friends
With many offices still closed, the sidelining of casual work friendships have been an unfortunate side effect of the pandemic. Virtual happy hours really can't replace the spontaneous connections formed with colleagues that happen when you're walking together to meetings or grabbing a quick lunch. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking about how much you’ve... Continue Reading →